Polk County Man Sentenced To More Than 5 Years In Federal Prison For Tax Fraud

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Jermaine Lee Lippett to 5 years and five months in federal prison for conspiracy, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft. Lippett was also ordered to forfeit $96,805.12 and to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $96,553.12. Lippett pleaded guilty on November 2, 2012.

According to court documents, Lippett orchestrated a scheme to convert the proceeds of fraudulently-acquired federal tax refund checks through legitimate accounts held at the MidFlorida Federal Credit Union. Lippett, acting in complicity with several account holders and a credit union teller, caused fraudulent tax refund checks to be negotiated through legitimate accounts. He then shared the proceeds with the teller and account holders.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Monk.